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10th Michigan Infantry
in the American Civil War

Regimental History

Tenth Michigan Infantry. — Col., Charles M. Lum; Lieut.
-Cols., Christopher J. Dickerson, William H. Dunphy; Majs., James J.
Scarrett, Henry S. Burnett, Sylvan Ter Bush. This regiment was organized
at Flint during the fall and winter of 1861-62 and was mustered in, Feb.
6, 1862. It left the state April 22, being ordered to Corinth, and was
first in action at Farmington. It participated in the siege of Corinth;
was engaged at Boonville in June; was then ordered to Nashville and
assigned to the 1st brigade, and division, Rosecrans' army. It was
engaged in provost, guard and fatigue duty at Nashville, Murfreesboro
and on Stone's river during the year. On Dec. 31 it guarded an
ammunition train for the army, made a march of 54 miles in 36 hours, and
participated in the engagement at Stone's river. On Jan. 3, 1863, Cos. A
and D were attacked by a large force of guerillas, but repulsed them,
killing 15 and capturing as many more. On the 25th a squad guarding a
train was captured by 200 of the enemy's cavalry. Twenty-seven men of
the 10th being near, went forward and routed the enemy with heavy loss,
capturing guns and horses and saving most of the train, which had been
fired. On April 10 several hundred guerillas drove a detail of 46 men
away from the train they were guarding, but reinforced by 15 men, the
guard returned and saved the train. In August and September the regiment
joined in the march from Murfreesboro to Columbia, Stevenson, and
Bridgeport, Ala., then moved to Anderson's cross-roads, thence to
Smith's ferry, which place was reached Oct. 26. On Nov. 26 it
participated in the capture of Chickamauga Station, and then moving
towards Knoxville marched for several days, but was ordered to Columbus,
reaching there Dec. 9. It moved for Chattanooga on the 15th and 395
having reenlisted as veterans on Feb. 6, 1864, they were expecting to
receive the longed-for furlough, but instead on the 23d, the regiment
was ordered to prepare for a movement into Georgia. The order was
cheerfully obeyed and the regiment participated in the battle of Buzzard
Roost, losing 13 killed, 36 wounded and 17 missing. It made a gallant
advance over two sharp ridges, but being unsupported was compelled to
return to its earlier stand. It was furloughed home in March and on its
return reached Chattanooga May 11, in time to take part in the Atlanta
campaign. It was engaged at Resaca, Rome and Dallas, was in reserve at
Kennesaw mountain, fought at Peachtree creek, Sandtown, Red Oak, Rough
and Ready, and at Jonesboro charged the enemy's works, taking 400
prisoners and a stand of colors, losing 30 killed and 47 wounded. It
went into camp at Atlanta on Sept. 8, and on the 28th moved to
Stevenson, Huntsville, Athens and Florence, skirmishing at the latter
place. It proceeded to Chattanooga, thence to Rome, Ga., and moved
forward with the army on the Savannah campaign, engaging in skirmishes
at Sandersville and Louisville, four companies defeating a superior
force at the latter place. The regiment reached Savannah Dec. 11 and
moved into the city on the 21st. It then participated in the campaign of
the Carolinas, being engaged with the enemy at Fayetteville, Averasboro,
Southfield road and Bentonville. It reached Richmond May 7, was in the
grand review at Washington, moved to Louisville, Ky., in June, and was
mustered out on July 19. Its original strength was 997: gain by
recruits, 791; total, 1,788. Loss by death, 299.

Footnotes:Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3